When I was invited to write a patient case report for the International Association of Yoga Therapists’ Spring 2016 special In Focus issue of Yoga Therapy Todaymagazine on Yoga Therapy in Pain Care, I was honoured, but knew it would be challenging to include all aspects and details of an individual’s assessment, planning, treatment, and outcomes within a word count limit.

I have been working with people suffering from persistent (chronic) pain for over over 18 years, using a combination of my skills, knowledge and experience as a physical therapist and medical yoga therapist. I am pleased to share this concise and brief review of a case report in hopes that it gives the reader a sense of how and why therapeutic yoga in conjunction with physiotherapy can be a safe and effective approach to helping an individual who is suffering from persistent pain.

The article outlines the individual’s assessment (history, subjective interview, physical observations, goals), treatment plan and outcome. There are some specific examples of techniques and methods used, as well as the patient’s testimony in his own words.

I hope you find this valuable and worth sharing with health care professionals, colleagues, patients, family, friends, and anyone suffering from persistent pain. Part of my mission is to help healthcare professionals understand the profound efficacy and value that yoga has to offer when combined with rehabilitation in an evidence informed manner.

Enjoy the articleand please feel free to comment below with any questions or comments that you think would serve or add to the reader’s experience! Access to the article is below:

This entire Spring 2016 YTT issue focuses on pain rehabilitation through yoga therapy. Contributors to this issue include a variety of yoga therapists and healthcare professionals that have studied and teach about pain, pain science and that have trained and worked with people suffering from persistent pain for decades. It is a solid issue that explores a variety of options (and consequently, offers HOPE) for people in pain. You can access the full issue HERE

*This article is not meant to act as medical advice, nor to replace your current treatment. Please seek clearance and guidance from your licensed healthcare professional prior to participating in any of the tips, advice, practices or movements mentioned in this article.

Headaches. If you’ve had one, you understand how debilitating it can be. Did you know that migraine headaches alone are estimated to cost the Canadian economy $500 million annually in lost productivity and absenteeism? (Angus Reid Poll, 1990). This doesn’t even include other types of headaches such as sinus, cluster, or tension. If headaches are so common, why do they appear to be so poorly managed?

Chronic headache sufferers frequently do not receive the proper treatment and education on management because it can be very challenging for a health care practitioner to determine the root cause of the pain. Paying close attention to your headaches, including location, how long they last, quality of the pain and what reduces or triggers the pain, will help your doctor identify the type of headache you are experiencing, which will result in better overall treatment. Read more →